But if someone comes along and buys the rights to show the games it wont be on the BBC?

Well it's more of an asset to a pay tv operator than it was because under the old rule they wouldn't have had the final exclusively.



But a pay tv operator won't go near the cup. Particularly Sky. It would be of zero benefit to them. It just isn't a good enough competition.



ESPN seem happy with football and american sports. The FA Cup rights are up for grabs but they are no biting at that and neither are Sky.

the Challenge Cup Final is no longer on the protected list meaning that it can be on pay TV. The early rounds have never been on the protected list - which means taht the BBC [iwants[/i to broadcast them.



The BBC are under no obligation to show [iany[/i of the games - even though the final is on the "list" doesnt mean that they have to broadcast it.



They bid for the competition as a whole because they see it as adding value to their portfolio of sports, and I see no reason why this would change in the future.

The BBC dislike RL anyway.



The sports headlines on the saturday evening BBC news last week spoke of the defeats of England and Wales Rah Rah teams, and showed some crappy footage of penalties and kicks. This item was the first on the report.



At the end of the sports news it "mentioned" the England RL win over New Zealand, and didn't show any of the game or interview anyone.



Now if the Rah Rah team had gone into a game as underdogs and beaten the World Champions, they would have had it plastered all over the telly.



Just remember the BBC Sports Team of the year (a few years ago and I cant recall the exact year) - they gave it to ENgland RU, when the Wigan team had swept all all before them - fix? I think so.



I don't know the answer though. I like many others love RL but can't afford Sky Sports, so I'd prefer it to be on a free channel. What is most important is that it goes to a TV company that will show it to a large audience, and can do it better than the BBC.



I'm concerned that once off the BBC, a sponsor will be hard to find.

Ok well aslong as it stays on the BBC then I'll be happy

Obsessed - it's gone. Let it go man!

It's not gone, it's still alive. I just have to move to Ireland, the Carribean or Australia.

Can you show me where it say that the Challenge Cup will not be on the BBC next year because I cannot see it

Might be worth changing the title. How about "Very remote chance of the CC final not being on the BBC"

I have changed the title using far less effort than that!

England v Argentina

BBC Radio 5 Live 14:30

Live rugby union Test commentary on England v Argentina at Twickenham. Plus regular updates on Scotland v Fiji.

Wales v Scotland

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 15:00

International football friendly commentary on Wales v Scotland.

England v Brazil

BBC Radio 5 Live 17:00

Uninterrupted commentary from Doha on the international friendly between England and Brazil.

England v Australia

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 19:30

Uninterrupted rugby league commentary as England face Australia in the final of the Four Nations tournament. Coverage starts at 19:15.



Just heard the advert for this Saturday's sport on Radio 5 and 5Live extra. Guess which of the four games above wasn't mentioned. Would it have been so difficult to have tagged the 4 Nations final on to the end of the ad?

Who is “The BBC”?



They are a large organisation, elements of which probably want to see RL fail – but has many people who love RL and want it to do well.







The BBC News will report items that it thinks people are interested in. Look at the respective attendances - and you will see a clear indication as to why the RL barely merited a mention.







RL did very well at the BBC Awards in 2006.







Why? If we cant find a better sponsor than Leeds Polytechnic, we are in a bad way anyway.



For the sport of RL to truly be considered a “national treasure” or whatever nonsense name they give this list – it needs the hardcore fans to get behind it and support it first of all.



We cant complain about lack of media attention and television coverage when we are getting less than 20k at some international games and probably wont sell out the biggest game for years this weekend.